Health Care Worker Action Helps Keep Clinics Open

Health Care Workers' response helps prevent DHS from closing and privatizing county clinics.

“The real solution is in improving the public sector. That means finding funding from other sources, cutting administrative costs and adopting models that cut costs while increasing productivity.” Dorlah Lawrence, Nursing Care Specialist I, Mid-Valley Comprehensive Health Center

Los Angeles–DHS reversed its call to close clinics and reduce services and instead voted Tuesday, February 19, to shelve the plan and ordered the CEO to find other ways to save costs.

SEIU 721’s response proved a influential on the Board’s decision:
•  A team of health care workers and staff collected petitions from nurses and other health care workers at the clinics asking the Board to keep the clinics open.  
• We also testified at the Board of Supervisor’s meeting, highlighting the negative impact closure and privatization would have on our communities and other urgent care facilities.

Dorlah Lawrence, a nursing care specialist at Mid-Valley CHC, doubts that privatization would be a viable solution.  “If our comprehensive health centers can’t handle the present load, how can a new public-private partnership handle the needs of patients?” says Dorlah.

Next Steps:
The County CEO will providing the Board with a report back including a list of cost saving options by March 24.  Until then SEIU Local 721’s Health Policy Committee will be developing recommendations for our next steps.